In what way did motherhood surprise you?

It surprised me in how I can perfectly function(surprisingly) after having slept for only 3-4 hours a night!

What has been the most difficult part of being a mom?

Lack of sleep, is the number one difficulty...and having time to do stuff for myself..I like to workout...it's hard to find a regular time of doing it with 3 kids of totally different ages! And to practice my craft I love to paint, but haven't found the time to do so in years!

What is the most rewarding part of this experience?

Seeing your babies grow before your eyes healthily and happily, it truly is a profound blessing.

As time passes, are things getting easier or more challenging as a mom?

In every stage there are difficulties and fun moments, and I will forever cherish every phase that they passed through. But I believe as they grow older the responsibilities towards them increase....like newborns you need to keep them clean, well-fed and warm...older kids need guidance, they need prudent mentoring, they need a role model, they need to have an effective moral compass instilled in them to guide them throughout their adult lives.

What are the most important things you have learned from having a child?

I've also learned how to trust my intuition and judgment, to make decisions concerning my kids, in their health, in their education...The maternal instinct

Do you have a support system in the house (Nanny, mother, husband)?

I do not have a nanny, and never had one, but I'm lucky to have a lot of help and support from my mom and my mother-in-law. We're all very a close knit-family.

How important is it for moms nowadays to have a life and an identity outside of their families beyond 'mommy' or even 'wife'

It is very important for a mother to do so. Create the time to do something she enjoys, whether it be a sport, catching up with friends, or just time recharge her energy; it'll help her be a better mom and wife. If you're lucky enough to foster a successful career for yourself while fulfilling your maternal obligation then more kudos to you. There should be more to your identity than just being a 'caretaker mother'.

How do you juggle your fitness and being a mom?

Well I've always been active and I love sports. However after my third child it hasn't been easy to do it regularly...if I'm luck I'd workout once or twice a week.

What do you do to de-stress?

An enlivening 'girl's night out' with other fellow mothers is the perfect remedy for stress and rejuvenates me.

Now that you're a mother, what advice would you give your teenage self, if you could go back in time?

I would tell myself I should have been a less secretive as a teenager, and should have shared more of my thoughts with my mother. I know now how constructive maternal advice can be, and had I followed it I would have save myself a lot of heartache. I want my kids to be more forthcoming than I was.

What influenced your decision to work/stay at home?

It was too overwhelming for me to work and raise my first kid. I just didn't have the stamina for it. After my third I sort of got the hang of it, and was able to manage it better. It was then that I decided to reinvent myself as a working mother starting her own business. So how about that: tackling double duties as mommy/entrepreneur.

What advice would you give to a parent who is struggling with the decision to work or stay home?

Just think, do you need to work? Do you need the income? Unless you can work and be a mom and both are not affecting one another, then go ahead and work. Many good moms manage to have successful careers.... Just know your capabilities and put your family on top of everything else.

What have you learned from your mom that you can pass on to your child?

I've learned discipline and self-respect and how to be there for others when they need you. I want to pass along that lesson of compassion.

What was your mother right about?

That I'm stubborn and too precocious for my own good! :-)

If you could have one super power. What would it be?

To be able to read people's minds and thoughts.

What do you do as a mother that other mothers shouldn't do?

Tattoos and body piercing, some people find it controversial. It's just my audaciously artistic side.

3 Things you should never say to your kids?

Never anything that belittles their intelligence. When they present something the worked on, never say ''Not good enough' that will discourage them. Never say 'It's your fault' that's too much of a burden on a kid.

Being a mom made me: Confident about my capabilities, fulfilled, and better at multitasking.